Anyone else blog/keep a journal?

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ZagDoc

ZagDoc

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I started my blog for selfish experiences. Really it was more a chance for me to write about my experiences as I started medical school with an opportunity to look back and laugh/reflect on the thoughts and follies along the way.

So far it's been worth it. I read what I posted even 6 months ago and kind of shake my head at some of it, but its also a cool way to keep a connection to my former self and kind of keep a part of that with me along to way.

Anyone else been journaling or blogging about their experiences? Don't fear anonymity, let us know! It's cool to read about other peoples thoughts and feelings.

Edit: Wow, 500 views and not a single person even keeps a journal. Interesting.
 
I've been blogging since the summer after my freshman year of college. Its interesting to read about the medical schools I was sure I would never go to, and look at the school I'm at now. Its also interesting to see that the same distaste I had for research back then, I still have now. Its pretty satisfying to read about all the struggles I had in organic chemistry, and for that now to be so far in the past that I don't even remember a single reaction pathway and I dont' really need to 🙂. You know what, this will probably turn into a thread for shamelessly plugging your blog URL 😀. But I'd never do that

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I do. I blogged through my post-bacc and now in medschool. I do it to keep my friends and family (i assume nobody else has stumbled accross it) abreast of what's going on with me.
 
I also keep a journal, but the old fashioned way, with pen and paper 😉 No need for the entire world to read my stuff (which is for the most part pretty depressing 🙄)
 
Not sure what the hell I'd even write about if I did keep a med-school blog...


Tues. 7:22am
Alarm went off 2 minutes ago. Wow, I'm pretty damn tired. 10 inches of snow outside? *fingers crossed*

Tues. 6:17pm
My life just got 10 times more exciting. For dinner, I made sloppy joes.

Wed. 12:41pm
My to-do list is 33 items long. Whatever. I'll do it tomorrow.

Sat. 6:31pm
I've been in the library for over 8 hours without getting up once to pee. I'm amazing.
 
CigarTragic said:
Not sure what the hell I'd even write about if I did keep a med-school blog...


Tues. 7:22am
Alarm went off 2 minutes ago. Wow, I'm pretty damn tired. 10 inches of snow outside? *fingers crossed*

Tues. 6:17pm
My life just got 10 times more exciting. For dinner, I made sloppy joes.

Wed. 12:41pm
My to-do list is 33 items long. Whatever. I'll do it tomorrow.

Sat. 6:31pm
I've been in the library for over 8 hours without getting up once to pee. I'm amazing.
Click to expand...
I would read this blog.
 
I started a blog thinking I would have all these interesting things to say as a med student, but it's really just a way for me to chronicle stressful situations. And it gives me something to do when I can't sleep 👍
 
CigarTragic said:
Not sure what the hell I'd even write about if I did keep a med-school blog...


Tues. 7:22am
Alarm went off 2 minutes ago. Wow, I'm pretty damn tired. 10 inches of snow outside? *fingers crossed*

Tues. 6:17pm
My life just got 10 times more exciting. For dinner, I made sloppy joes.

Wed. 12:41pm
My to-do list is 33 items long. Whatever. I'll do it tomorrow.

Sat. 6:31pm
I've been in the library for over 8 hours without getting up once to pee. I'm amazing.
Click to expand...


if i had a blog, it would also look exactly like this. a sad sad life we lead... 🙁
 
I would have a blog but i am scared people would read it and i want to keep my thoughts and experiences private. I keep a blog the old fashioned way but this thread got me thinking about moving it to the computer it is so much faster. Are there any blogs where you can not make it available to the internet community but still use the perks of the blog website?
 
I keep a blog but since I am used to pencil and paper journal it has been tough remembering to post in it often!

It is a good outlet for me 🙂
 
Personally I absolutely love Surgeonsblog. A well reputed surgeon with a wide variety of thoughts on a wide variety of topics. A recommended read for sure.

A shame Ah, Yes decided to go into hibernation for residency. Loved his wit, but I can't blame him.

Nice sneaking of your own link onto the list by the way 😉
 
I love keeping my blog. I think it's therapeutic. It also helps me keep in touch with family and friends.
 
I keep a blog. I find it helpful in venting my frustrations, but I rarely write about med school. Instead I use it to discuss matters that I can't discuss with most of my fellow students who don't seem to ( at least to me) have any other interests out side of socialising with other med students and studying.

If anyone is interested, I can PM my blog address.
 
Does anyone know that website where a family physician from Texas I think, has info about the negatives of family medicine, etc? I can't remember which site that was.


 
bullishMD said:
I would have a blog but i am scared people would read it and i want to keep my thoughts and experiences private. I keep a blog the old fashioned way but this thread got me thinking about moving it to the computer it is so much faster. Are there any blogs where you can not make it available to the internet community but still use the perks of the blog website?
Click to expand...

I'm the same way. I had a blog for awhile at www.blogger.com. You can set the permissions so that you are the only person that can search for and view your blog.
 
bullishMD said:
I would have a blog but i am scared people would read it and i want to keep my thoughts and experiences private. I keep a blog the old fashioned way but this thread got me thinking about moving it to the computer it is so much faster. Are there any blogs where you can not make it available to the internet community but still use the perks of the blog website?
Click to expand...

You can go to www.livejournal.com and put your entry under "private" so no one but you can read it. I don't think you get as much control over the look of your journal unless you're a paid member, but if you are just using it for private purposes the free one is enough.
 
I really wanted to keep a blog...just can't think of much to say, or what would be of interest for others to read.
 
Tristy said:
I also keep a journal, but the old fashioned way, with pen and paper 😉 No need for the entire world to read my stuff (which is for the most part pretty depressing 🙄)
Click to expand...

I use pen and paper as well. 👍
 
I started a blog at http://themedstudentexperience.blogspot.com.

It's the beginnings of what I hope can one day a place that offers insight and tips/advice about medical school, in particular at a school that recently shifted to an organ systems-based approach to teaching.

I'm trying to approach my blog by looking back on first two years of medical school, what's changed about my personality, study habits, relationships, etc.

Kinda therapeutic if you ask me.
 
I also recently started a blog about medical school. I find it de-stressing at times, and it allows me to look through it from time to time. Also, it lets people know what I'm up to, or how the school is like.
 
I keep a blog that I started up during the application process. I'm hoping to keep it going when I start medical school this fall. I'm a non-traditional student. I'm married, have a child, and am leaving a career. When I started looking for advice about medical school, I had a hard time finding personal accounts that I could relate to. Hopefully my blog will provide to someone else, what I had been looking for back then. It's also been a nice way to "meet" a few medical students before I even start school. Most of my regular commenters are applicants or students.
 
What is more narcissistic than blogging?
 
Just curious for those of you who don't use blogspot (or don't have it as your URL). Where do you register the domain name and how do you create your layouts? Are you guys html wizards or something? 😛
 
If you guys are looking for more med student blogs to read, check here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=559531

For my own part, I think there's enough crazy crap that goes on in this academic s**t show they call medical school, that it can bear some reflecting on from time to time. I don't think I can (or really want to) blog every day because seriously, the wake up/class/study/sleep cycle gets pretty monotonous after a while. But when something crazy does happen, I figure it's worth writing about to help me process and reflect. And hey, while I am thinking about it, perhaps (big perhaps there) someone else experiencing the same things might care what my take on it all is.

So here it is! My blog: http://chevaliermalfet.wordpress.com/
 
indo said:
What is more narcissistic than blogging?
Click to expand...


If you don't love yourself, who else is going to love you? Your mother perhaps but not very many other folks. If blogging is self-love then go for it and enjoy the mental masterba---n! 😉


Panda Bear said:
Yeah. Blogging is for losers.
Click to expand...

Yes, most definitely for losers! Bottom-feeders unite! :laugh:


Seriously, blogging can be venting or a desire to help others see a different perspective. I find blogging therapeutic and I find blogging a chance to see how I have grown in this profession. Medicine has allowed me to be a voyeur into the lives of my patients on a daily basis. It's an interesting career and loads of fun too. Why not write about something that you enjoy?

There are loads of great blogs out there from across the country and around the world. They allow a glimpse into the thoughts of others. You may find some helpful information or you may not but you will always find some kind of perspective from another person or company.

The best blog out there IMHO is this one : Hemodynamics This very excellent physician just sees the world from a great perspective and insight. He's also an excellent writer too!
 
njbmd said:
If you don't love yourself, who else is going to love you? Your mother perhaps but not very many other folks. If blogging is self-love then go for it and enjoy the mental masterba---n! 😉


Yes, most definitely for losers! Bottom-feeders unite! :laugh:


Seriously, blogging can be venting or a desire to help others see a different perspective. I find blogging therapeutic and I find blogging a chance to see how I have grown in this profession. Medicine has allowed me to be a voyeur into the lives of my patients on a daily basis. It's an interesting career and loads of fun too. Why not write about something that you enjoy?
Click to expand...

mental masturbation? haha, well I am on internal medicine now.


You don't need to blog if you just keep your facebook status updated.


I guess the idea of publishing my thoughts and daily experiences as if they were entertaining or interesting is completely foreign to me. I don't really take offense to blog-as-therapy writing but moreso the assumption that one's life is so interesting and novel that others will delay accessing free porn in order to read about my feelings on studying 12 hours straight. On that note, I guess I will go start my blog and title it, "memories of road construction--poetry inspired by manual labor".
 
Last edited:
blogging can be about anything. take for instance the series I've started entitled "Med School Personalities" at my blog http://themedstudentexperience.blogspot.com. I'm profiling, in a free thought poetry form, a bunch of the real and crazy personalities I've run into the past two years in med school.

Let me know if you've seen a personality that's not represented.

It's all purely for kicks. gotta vent and laugh at some point in med school., right? :laugh:

~Medstudent11
 
Just be sure to be careful about blogs. It's rather easy for it to get out in your med school and have other med students or even attendings (!!!) learn the link. What you may think is just ordinary grumbling about a bad situation can blow up into a HIPAA violation or drama-llama really quick. Just be mindful about how you write, regardless of who reads it!

With that being said, if you are already writing carefully and want your blogs out there, you should all link to each other via blogroll. 🙂
 
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